Chapter 10 #8
Once I locked the door, I leaned against it and let out a shaky breath. I thought about the way his voice had changed, the glint in his eyes, the almost-animal tension that seemed to run just under his skin when he was angry.
The apartment felt quieter after. Heavier.
Mateo watched me for a long, silent moment. He seemed to measure all the details around him. Then he yawned: big, exaggerated, clearly performative.
“I’m going to bed,” he announced. Halfway down the hall, he stopped and looked back. “He’s really coming to the arcade, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I think he means it.”
Mateo gave a small, satisfied hum and disappeared into his room.
I tucked him in a few minutes later. He was asleep before I finished smoothing the covers, his face finally peaceful. I stayed longer than I needed to, watching him breathe.
Tonight had shaken him. He wouldn’t say it out loud. But I’d felt it.
And somehow, that scared me more.
It wasn’t just the dreams, or Aiden’s uncanny knack for knowing when to step in and when to step back. It was the feeling that the world was shifting under my feet, the rules changing in real time.
Maybe my son could see things other people couldn’t. Maybe the scars that made Aiden different were the same ones that drew me to him. Maybe, just maybe, I was finally letting myself believe that family was something you built, not something you inherited.
If the river of light was real, I was ready to step into it, Mateo on one side, Aiden on the other.
And if I had to fight for that, I would.
9
Moonlit Promises
The next morning, I leaped from bed, fueled by an unexpected energy.
It was odd, considering the restless, sleepless night I’d just experienced.
My mind had been a carousel of thoughts, replaying the chaos of the previous evening.
Despite the lack of sleep, excitement pulsed within me, a jittery thrill I couldn’t quite shake.
His words stayed with me, igniting anticipation and curiosity.
I imagined us together, exploring new places, his laughter echoing in unfamiliar spaces.
The idea of him as a boyfriend – someone mysterious yet attentive – filled me with a longing I’d nearly forgotten.
Despite the lack of sleep, I felt alive with hope and wonder for what this could mean.
I felt as giddy as a teenager expectant of her crush’s invitation to prom.
Breathless with excitement, I could almost feel my pulse fluttering like it did back when Emily and I dreamed of high school dances beneath the starry southern sky.
It was a sweet, dizzy sensation I hadn’t allowed myself in years.
My thoughts spun wildly with longing and hope, and I felt the lost dreams of that little farm girl resurfacing with a vengeance.
How was it possible that Aiden’s mere words could unearth an innocence I thought I’d buried for good?
Like a whirlwind, it swept me up with an intensity that made my heart race.
Mateo noticed my shift in mood right away. He didn’t say anything, just watched me with that quiet, assessing look he got when he was piecing things together. One corner of his mouth twitched, like he’d already drawn a conclusion but hadn’t decided whether it was worth sharing yet.
He was perceptive like that. Almost-eleven going on thirty sometimes. More aware than I liked to admit.
Whatever energy I was giving off, he caught it. Not with excitement exactly, more like curiosity. Like he was studying a puzzle that he already suspected he knew the answer to.
“It’s gonna be one of those days, isn’t it?” he said at last, casual, like he wasn’t testing a theory.
“Maybe,” I said, bumping my hip into his as we moved through the morning routine.
He smirked. “That’s a yes.”
I reached out and ruffled his hair out of habit. He let me, exactly for one second, then ducked away with an exaggerated groan. “Mom. I’m not five.”
“Debatable,” I shot back.
A corner of his mouth lifted as we wandered into the kitchen, the smell of breakfast starting to fill the air. He hovered nearby, leaning against the counter, watching me like he was waiting for the next reveal.
I pulled him into a quick hug. Just a squeeze. He stiffened out of reflex, then relaxed, patting my side once before stepping back.
“Okay,” he said, clearing his throat like he hadn’t just been hugged. “So… what’s the plan?”
I smiled to myself.
Whatever worries I’d been carrying felt lighter in that moment, not because they were gone, but because he was there. Watching. Grounded. Growing. No longer a little kid, but not quite ready to stop being one either.
And somehow, that was enough.
* * *
Not even the tediousness of my shift at the diner could bring my spirits down. I moved from table to table with a humming energy. Each clatter of dishes and clink of glasses felt like part of a joyful rhythm, transforming yesterday’s chaos into something almost celebratory.
Though I was tired, my anticipation of the evening with Aiden kept me buoyant. Not even Aleksey and one other of Ulysses’ men, in their usual corner booth with grim faces and hushed conversations, could puncture my bubble of excitement.
As the lunch rush began, the bell above the diner’s door jingled when Aiden and Cody walked in. My nerves fluttered with delight, and I greeted them with a beaming smile.
“Wow, Josie, you’re practically glowing,” Cody said as they settled into a booth. His eyes were full of mischief, a knowing grin already tugging at his lips.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Collin,” I said, mistaking his name on purpose.
Cody’s laughter was as genuine as always, his amused glance bouncing between Aiden and me. I tried to act nonchalant with a casual shrug, but even I knew my giddiness was as obvious as the bright red color rising to my cheeks.
Aiden leaned back with an easy confidence, his smirk as bold and cocky as ever. “What time should I pick you up?” he asked.
“After my shift at Neon,” I replied, trying to sound casual despite the excitement bubbling up inside me. “I’ll be waiting for you,” I added.
His answering grin beamed at me, dazzling and full of possibilities.
By the end of my shift at the diner, I was barely standing.
The clatter of dishes and hum of conversations faded to a dull roar as my thoughts drifted continually to the evening waiting ahead.
When I finally turned my apron in, I felt like collapsing right there at the counter, but the thought of seeing Aiden kept me going.
Back at the apartment, Mateo was in the living room when I came in, backpack half-open on the couch. He looked up like he’d been expecting me anyway. He took one look at me and raised an eyebrow.
“You look wiped,” he said.
Not mean. Just observant.
Before I could answer, his mouth tilted into a small, knowing grin. “Doesn’t matter,” he added. “Today’s a special day. You said so.”
The certainty in his voice caught me off guard. Not excitement, confidence. Like this was a fact, not something up for debate.
I sighed, shaking my head. “Right,” I said. “A special day.”
“Told you,” he replied, already turning away, as if the subject was settled.
He moved around the apartment with purpose, pulling out his homework, setting himself up at the table, glancing at me when I lagged like he was silently urging me to keep up.
And somehow, it worked.
The heaviness in my body loosened, just a little. His belief that the day was going to be good, no, great, slipped under my skin and rewired my mood before I could stop it.
By the time I grabbed my keys and walked out the door, I was smiling. The thrill of the night with Aiden reawakened in me.
“See?” Mateo said, catching it immediately. “Told you.”
I laughed under my breath. “Don’t get cocky.”
Too late. He already was.
Every step I took towards Neon felt lighter than the last, and when I spotted his silhouette waiting outside, all the tension I’d carried seemed to melt away.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice a mix of delight and disbelief.
An unexpected flutter that sent my heart soaring. How long had he been here, and why was he so early? The questions spun while I tried to rein in my surprise. The rush of excitement that followed was like nothing I’d anticipated.
“I couldn’t wait to see you again.” His voice was a smooth, confident melody.
Those words caught me off guard, disarming me completely with their honesty. I stood there, speechless, my thoughts a jumbled mess of excitement and disbelief.
His eyes held mine, and I felt the warmth of his gaze sweep over me, rekindling the giddy anticipation that had simmered beneath my exhaustion all day. I was amazed by him, by his willingness to genuinely be here, and my heart swelled with emotions I struggled to contain.
In the end, all I could do was nod. Together, we walked the rest of the way to the bar. His presence was like a spark, setting fire to the evening’s possibilities.
Inside Neon, I felt the bass thrum beneath my feet.
The place was packed, pulsing with an infectious energy.
From every corner, the crowd surged with anticipation, laughter, and loud voices cutting through the heavy air.
Aiden followed closely behind me, and I sensed his presence as a steady, grounding force amidst the chaos.
He settled into his usual booth, scanning the room with an intensity that seemed to dissect every detail, a watchful predator among the oblivious party-goers. He had the kind of presence that naturally drew people in.
I made my way to the bar. Rita was behind the counter, her bright eyes zeroing in on me the moment I approached. Her curls bounced as she moved, pouring drinks with the efficiency of someone who’s mastered the art of multitasking.
When I reached her, she leaned forward with a knowing smirk. “What’s he doing here again?” she asked. Her eyes flicked towards Aiden, then back to me.